Aircraft covering



Jan. 13, 1931. l. M. `JAcoBsol-INET AL 1,788,394

AIRCRAFT COV-BRING. y

FiledMarcyh 6I 1925 @f5/fg.

.1NVENTORS.

ISADORE M.J.Acosonu STARR TRuscoTT ATTORNEY.

Patented 13, 1931 UNITED ya'lal'r-isV PATENT OFFICE;

ISADORE M. JLCOBSOBN, F CHICAGO, ILIINOIS, AND STRB TBUSCOTT, 0F BIRMINGHAM, OHIO arncaarr covEnrNG Tf Application illed March 8, 1925. Serial No. 18,617.

(Gnanrap Imran man Aer or-nucn s, 18ers, as .mENnnn Aran. 3o, 192s; 37o o. e. 757) This invention relates to improvements in fabrics for aircraft and more particularly to the construction of gas cells for the rlgid types of balloons althou h it is, of course, to

be understood that it. 1s applicable to the -non-rigid type as well.l

In our co-pending applications led Apr.

11, 1925, and bearing Serial Nos.- 22,346,

22,347, and 22,348, were given descri tions `of various fabrics for the gas,c ells o rigid airships using cellulose and other films as a substitute for goldbeaters skins. In these fabrics the general practice rwas to form a film of cellulose, or" other impermeable membrane, and apply it by means .of an adhesive 'to the foundation cloth. In the fabrics which are now described the process is to form the impermeable film directly upon thecloth or upon a film already prepared u on the cloth go and thus avoid the necessit of andling the impermeable film separate y from the cloth or foundation.

By this method it is possible to construct not merely fabrics containing one layer of cloth on which the film is built up, but also plasticizing and stabilizing ingredients is .to produce fabrics containing several layers of cloth with an impermeable film, or several impermeable films incorporated in the layers between the'cloth.

When intended for use as a substitute for goldbeaters skin fabric the fabric in question may be produced by coating a rubberized or other proofed fabric with viscose or other water-soluble derivative of cellulose. that is subsequently reverted to cellulose itself. The product thus obtained is a smooth','flexible fabric resembling greatly in appearance goldbeaters skin fabric. The film of cellulose formed on the rubber orother proofed surface of the fabric is tough, plastic, and.

adheres well to the surface. It is superior to goldbeaters skin inV that it is more plastic and may be stretched with the fabric without cracking or breaking. Itis superior to cellophane in that it forms a'firmer bond with the rubber or other proofed surface and eliminates also a number of steps in the manufac- `ture of the gas cell fabric. p

It is, therefore, one of the objects of the '15o present invention to provide a more reliable kin the form of a dough, over a light weight and efficient fabric of the above general character which may be less expensively manufactured and ada ted to overcome various ob- ]ections hereto ore eX erienced.

Other objects will e in part obvious and in parthereinafter pointedout with vthe following description of the invention.

more comprehensive understanding of the invention may be had from'the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a conventional cross sectional view of a fabric constructed in accordance with my invention, and

Figure 2 is a modified form thereof where.- in is illustrated` a muItiple-ply fabric.

In carrying out the invention We .prefer `to start withD Para rubber although other kinds may be used. Combined with a suitable vulcanizing agent, Par rubber is spread,

balloon clothand the rubberized cloth thus formed is vulcanized just sufficiently to prevent it from sticking to itself. A coat of gelatln or glue adhesive, containing suitable applied to the rubber surface and dried. Suc- 'cessive coats of viscosesolution are then apvtaining an aqueous solution of s odium bisulfite, Washed with water and finally immersed in an aqueous solution of glycerine in order to render it plastic. The'fabric is then dried and a coat of varnish applied to the cellulose to protect itfrom moisture.

Instead of using the coating .above described the various compounds described in our co-pending applications above referred to may be applied directly to the proofed fabric, if .so desired.`

In carryingout the manufacture of the fabric, itis preferred to use an apparatus somewhat similar to that described in patent to Brandenberger, No. 991,267, modified vas may beI necessary so that the viscosel upon comingout of the hopper Will fiow directly upon a rubberized or other proofed fabric and then proceed through ,various chemical operations of chemical treatment,

, washing, etc., outlined therein.

'the' use of rubber. Any type of proofing which has the desired properties may be used. We do not limit ourselves to the use of-viscose but may use the aqueous dispersion of any cellulose derivative. The use of rim - manufactured and used b a cementing adhesive between the viscose and' the proofed fabric may, if desired, be omitted. We do not limit ourselves to the vulcanization of therubberized fabric prior to the coating with viscose. In some cases, particularly fin the case of the multiple-ply fabrics, it will probably be desirable to vulcanize the fabric after itis assembled. We 4do 'not limit ourselves to the use of the agents above mentioned' for reverting viscose to hydro-cellulose. l

It will thus be seen that the present invention contemplates the manufacture of fabrics particularly adapted for the purpose above set forth among others which may be inexpensively performed and the resulting material will be highly reliable, suitable and eilicient in use and operation.

The invention herein described may be i or for the Government of the United i tates for governmental purposes Without the payment to us of anyroyalty thereon ortherefor.

W hat we claim is:-

l. A flexible fabric impermeableA to gases for the construction of gas cells consisting ofl a rubberized base fabric and 'a `layer of reverted plasticized cellulose. n

2. A flexible fabric impermeable to gases vfor gas cell construction consisting ofY a rubberized base fabric, a layer of reverted plasticized cellulose and a moisture proofing film. 3. A Aflexible. fabric impermeable to gasesfor gas cell construction consisting of a rubberized base fabric, an adhesive thereon, a layer of reverted cellulose impregnated with a plasticizing agent.

4. A flexible fabric impermeable to gases for gas cell construction consisting of a. rubberized base fabric, an adhesive thereon,- a layer of reverted cellulose, a plasticizing agent applied thereto and a molsture proofing film exterior thereo `5. A exible fabric for gas cell construction consisting of a inibberized base fabric, an adhesive thereon, a layer consisting of reverted cellulose, a second layer of rubberized fabric, asecond la er of reverted cellulose,-and a Water proo ng film applied to the outside thereof..

' 6. A method of rendering a fabric fiexible and impermeable to ases consisting in rubberizing a fabric, app ying an adhesive thereto, spreading a cellulose derivative thereover,

regenerating cellulose by the subjection of the thus prepared fabric tobaths, plasticizing th'e regenerated cellulose, and waterproofing the built up fabric.

7 A method of rendering a fabric flexible andimpermeable to gases consisting in rubberizing a fabric, applying an adhesive containing plasticizing and stabilizing ingredients, drying said adhesive, applying a coating of viscose solution, reverting said viscose solution to cellulose by subjecting the thus prepared fabric to baths, plasticizing the regenerated cellulose, and waterproofing the built up fabric.

8. A flexible fabric impermeable to gases for 'the construction of gas cells consisting of a rubberized base fabric and a film of .plasticized reverted cellulose rubber.

9. A exible fabric :impermeableto'gases for gas cell construction consisting of a rubberized base fabric, afilm of plasticized reverted cellulose, and a moisture proofing layer thereoven film of reverted cellulose rubber, a secondlayer of rubberized fabric, a second film of reverted cellulose rubber, and a water. ing film applied to the outside thereof.

Signed at Washington, District ofColumbia, this 31st day of January, 1925.

ISADORE M. JACOBSOHN.' STARR TRUSCOTT.

impermeable to gases f proof- 

